SW: How would you classify the music of Twisted Roots? How has it evolved over five albums?
PG: Twisted Roots is rock, driven by dynamics and vocal harmonies. The first two albums were a roller coaster of music — we were experimenting with sounds and styles. Twisted Roots has always been a band influenced by so many genres that our formula is to play what we enjoy and not some stamped out pattern of tunes. After all this time, however, we have honed in on our strengths. The risks we took with new styles and sounds before only helped us to define the Twisted Roots sound, which is still always evolving.
SW: What was the inspiration for your latest album “12 Skies, Fire and the Black?”
PG: After the release of “The Seed” (TR Musik 2004), we had all this residual energy. We could feel there were songs waiting to be born. “12SFATB” is our second, self-produced CD and we took full advantage of that freedom by experimenting with music and lyric structures. We spent a solid six-and-a-half months writing and re-writing the songs. In that time, we underwent a lot of positive personal changes while national and world-wide events unfolded (hints of these things are throughout the CD in metaphor or musical dynamics), but mostly we were influenced by the evolution of the local music scene. There were some great CD’s released in that time which inspired us to step up our writing to be more in tune with the sounds that were emerging.
SW: Having played the local scene since 1989, how has it changed?
PG: There was more of an underground music scene back then and no places for bands with original material to play with the exception of Geno’s. You had to work hard to find places for all-ages shows. When you did, it was an event. Bands would organize shows in empty warehouses, basements and VFW halls. Kids would come from all around. Rehearsal spaces were hard to come by. Fortunately, there was a building with 15 or so rooms every band in the city used for rehearsing. We knew of each other and would stop by to listen, hang out, share ideas for shows. When the building changed owners, the rooms were no longer available and left bands scrambling for whatever they could find. That was, and still is, an obstacle for bands looking to get started. Promoting a show was also different. It was all done with flyers posted everywhere around town. Band members would draw the most amazing flyers — definitely an artform and competition. Along the way, the music scene has undergone a lot of changes — more music venues emerged and styles of local music formed. Every conceivable genre was played. The scene went through cycles until it received acceptance from the city and residents. It has always been community support for local music that keeps the scene alive. Today there are more ways for bands to promote their music — Internet, local press, public television, radio stations brave enough to spin local music and nightclubs that are the mainstay to tie all those things together.
SW: What is a Twisted Roots live show like?
PG: Tight, cool and incredibly sexy. Sometimes mysterious or nostalgic, it always changes.
SW: What are the future plans for Twisted Roots?
PG: We plan on supporting the release of “12 Skies, Fire and the Black” and are working on broader distribution, radio airplay, press and branching out to cities where there is a strong rock-metal scene. One of our goals is to raise awareness about the importance of local original music, no matter what city you may live in, keeping radio, public television and free press in the hands of the people, which in turn supports the community and fosters cultural growth and keeps the arts alive in every form.